Working as a baker, David Williams saw his employer preparing to shut down. With four young children at home, he needed something dependable he could raise a family on.  

So he came to Metro Transit, where he spent 36 years as a bus operator.  

As he prepared to retire in 2026, he said the decision gave him not only the stability he sought but a career rich in human connection. “You see the same people every day, and it becomes a community,” he said. 

Some of those connections extended beyond the bus. One passenger he bonded with over sports still keeps in touch and even attends his grandson’s basketball games. 

David spent most of his career at Heywood, which he considered his home. There, he found his favorite routes, especially those that took him beyond the inner city and past lakes and quieter parts of the region. “It’s beautiful out there, especially in the spring and summer,” he said. 

While David had a long and successful career, he might have left after a few years if not for a manager who encouraged him to stay. Looking back, he said that was “one of the best decisions I ever made.” 

In retirement, David planned to spend more time with family, travel for his grandson’s basketball tournaments, and visit his son in Miami.